Gamma-ray fluxes in Oklo natural reactors

TL;DR

This paper models gamma-ray fluxes in Oklo natural reactors to assess their impact on lutetium thermometry, finding that gamma-induced isomeric burn-up is negligible compared to neutron processes, supporting the method's validity.

Contribution

It provides detailed gamma-ray flux calculations and evaluates their effect on lutetium thermometry in Oklo reactors, confirming the method's reliability.

Findings

Gamma-ray fluxes are quantified as a function of energy.

Gamma-induced lutetium burn-up is negligible compared to neutron burn-up.

Lutetium thermometry remains valid for Oklo reactor analysis.

Abstract

Uncertainty in the operating temperatures of Oklo reactor zones impacts the precision of bounds derived for time variation of the fine structure constant $\alpha$. Improved $^{176}$Lu/$^{175}$Lu thermometry has been discussed but its usefulness may be complicated by photo excitation of the isomeric state $^{176m}$Lu by $^{176}$Lu($\gamma,\gamma^\prime $) fluorescence. We calculate prompt, delayed and equilibrium $\gamma$-ray fluxes due to fission of $^{235}$U in pulsed mode operation of Oklo zone RZ10. We use Monte Carlo modeling to calculate the prompt flux. We use improved data libraries to estimate delayed and equilibrium spectra and fluxes. We find $\gamma$-ray fluxes as a function of energy and derive values for the coefficients $\lambda_{\gamma,\gamma^\prime}$ that describe burn-up of $^{176}$Lu through the isomeric $^{176m}$Lu state. The contribution of the ($\gamma,\gamma^\prime $) channel to the $^{176}$Lu/$^{175}$Lu isotopic ratio is negligible in comparison to the neutron burn-up channels. Lutetium thermometry is fully applicable to analyses of Oklo reactor data.